Improvement in vent-cocks for beer-fermenting casks



T. F. STRAUB. Vent-.Cook for Beer Fermentng Casks. No. 208,711.

Patented Oct. 8, 1878.

N-FETERS. PHOTO-L THOGR UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

THEODRE F. STRAUB, OF ALLEGHENY (ITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN VENT-COCKS FOR BEER-FERMENTING CASKS.

Speciicntion forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,771, dated October f2. 1973; ILPPliOflTOll 'lll September 6, 1R79.

To all whom fit 'may concern:

Be it known that I, THEoDoRE F. STRAUB, of Allegheny city, county of All egheny, State of Pennsylvania., have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvementin Cock and Vent for Beer-Oasks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, in whichlike letters indieating like parts Figurel shows, in elevation, my improved cock and vent for beer-casks. Fig. 2 is an en larged vertical sectional view of the lower part ofthe U`shaped pipe or tube used in the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a like view of the funnel used at the outer end of the tube; and Fig. et is a reduced view, in elevation, of my improved apparatus as applied to a nishing-cask.

My invention relates to a device adapted for use in the manufacture of lager-beer and other malt or fermented liquors 5 and the purpose of its use is to secure a constant and uniform pressure on the liquor being treated, whereby the gas generated during such treatment is allowed to escape, while the liquor itself is retained in the cask. Other useful results are also secured by its use, as will presently appear.

In the finishing process, so called, of the manufacture of lager-beer, the liquor is drawn from the stocking-cask7 into what is known as a finishing-cash, and then charged with, say, from eight to ten per centum, by quantity, of freshly-fermented liquor. This charge causes arefermentation, or an additional fermentation or working, in the contents of the cask, and it has been the custom to open the bung of the cask while this fermentation was going on, and allow the gas generated to escape through it; but in so escaping the gas carries with it considerable liquor, which is wholly wasted, and hence it is necessary to add, from time to time, charges of fermented liquor to supply such waste and keep the cask well lled. When this action or fermentation has continued a proper time, the cask is closed and allowed to stand for a time, and when the liquor has attained a certain stage or condition it must be racked oft' at once, since if it remain a longer time it becomes muddy or deteriorated in quality. Such method of treatment requires close attention, not only to determine when this nishin g operation should be arrested, but also to keep the Cask properly iilled as the waste is carried off.

My improvement is designed to obviate the necessity of watchin g this operation so closely, as with it there is no wastage of liquor, and therefore no occasion for refilling 5 and there is little or no danger ofthe beer becoming injured or deteriorated in case it is not drawn or racked off at once upon attaining a certain stage or condition.

My improved apparatus is constructed as follows: A three-way cock, A, is provided, having any suitable means, as a threaded end, as shown in Fig. 1, for attaching it to the cask B. One passage or way in this cock is arranged to open into the cask B, one to a pipe, D, and one to a U-shaped pipe or tube, C C. These three ways are controlled by a rotating valve or plug, a, whereby the way leading into the cask may be opened to either the pipe D or the pipe C, or closed from both, at pleasure-as, for example, when the lever c, which operates the plug c, is in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1, the way leading into the cask will be opened to the way leading to the pipe C, and closed as to that leading to the pipe D. When the valve is moved so that this lever occupies the position shown in dotted lines at c1, communication will be opened from the cask through D and closed through C, and if for any cause it is desired to close the way to the cask from both D and C, it may be done by turning the plug a until the lever occupies the position shown in dotted lines at c2.

The pipes or tubes D and G C maybemade of any suitable material. I prefer, however, to use flexible hose, and they are connected to the cock A, so as to open into or communicate with their respective ways by screwcouplings s s, or other suitable coupling devices, properly packed to secure a tight connection.

The pipe C C is made some ten or twelve feet in length, more or less,varying somewhat according to the degree of pressure required; and it is supported by any suitable means, so as to assume a U form, as shown, the leg or part C' heilig, by preference, about live feet in height, more or less.

In use, this pipe C is charged with water lintil such water reaches to or nearly to the level of the upper surface ofthe liquor ill the cask; or, in any case, sutlieient water is lised to till the part ofthe pipe. In order to facilitate this lilling ofthe pipe, l attach a fullnel, e, to its outer end; also, the liaring lnouth of such funnel facilitates the escape ol' gas from the pipe, as presently described.

At the lower part ot' the U forined by the pipe C C', I make a short section, Il, by preti erence of metal. 'lllc length of this section b is not material. l prefer, however, to let it include botll elbows or curves of thc U, so tllatthetlexibletubesmayhangnearlystiaight. At one or both eilds of the section or part Il I contract the passage to one or more slnzill openings, l'. screw-plugs i", litted in the ends of the section, as shown, or in other convenient way.

The object ill thus reducing the passage in the pipe is to arrest the unequal or explosive action of the gas as it escapes from the cask B, and prevent it from forcing the water from the part U by sneli sudden or irregular actioli. By thus reducing the passage at one or more points, the gas will iind its way through such openings in sliiall quantities or volumes only, which will hiibble up through the water in the part U", aild escape atl the funnel-mouth c without agitating the water so as to force it. from the pipe. For a like reason, I also prefer to make a similar contraction at or near the lower point of the funnel e. This nia-y be done, as sliowli in Fig. 3, where the desired contraction is iliade by means of a perforated plug, e', secured in place in any coilveiiient way.

The pipe D leads to any suitable air-collipressing device, and it is used for conveying compressed air to the eask i, when its coiltelits are racked oft'.

'lhe operation of lny iiiprovenieilt is as folloi's: The finishing-Cask l is tilled with the liquor to be treated, the saine being charged with the requisite amount of freshly-fermented liquor, as described. While tllisis being done the bung o is securely closed, and the cock A, with its attachnielits, is secured to the cask, so as to open into it at the top, or as near the bling as practicable. Suliicient water is charged into the pipe (l (V, by preference, to lill it to or nearly to the level of the top of the cask, or the liquor therein. The plug a is turned, as shown in full lines at e, so as to open the way from the cask to the pipe (l C', aiid the actioli or working ot' thc contents of the cask is allowed to proceed. As gas is generated in such action it will pass from the cask througll the cock A to the part C of the pipe, and as such gas accumulates its 'lliis may be done by ineans of pressure will force the water in the pipe out ofthe part C ilito thc leg or part C. At this point the gas, being ot' less specific gravity tha-n water, will escape upward through the water ill the forln of bubbles, and owing to the contractions in the passage tliroiigll the pipe, as described, the water in the part l" will not be forced out, though the pressure ol the gas as it passes t'roin the cask is subjected to sudden changes. In this way a constant and uiiil'orln pressure will be exerted on the contents ot' the cask, which pressure will be measured by the weight of the column ot' water ill the pipe l". ily making this coluliili ot' slitticient height, as described, the weight or pressure therefrom will be suiiicient to prevent the liquor in the cask from escaping with the gas, `and thus all waste from such cause is avoided; and, also, the liquor being at all times, during such treatment, under pressure. it is prevented from becoming muddy or deteriorated, though it be left in the finishingcask for some tiliic after having come to the proper condition for racking olt; and when it is desired to rack or draw oli' the finished beer, the passage in the cock A is opened to the pipe l) and closed as to (l, as described, when air may be forced into the cask, as desired.

I do not limit myself t-o the particular locution or locations sllowil and described for the contractions in the pipe (l C', as they may be pla-ced at other parts ot' the pipe, aiid they may be iliade in other ways, and still perforln the function described; and such modifications I consider ns coniing within my invention.

ly the ilse of my iiiiprovcmclit, the beer, having been once properly tinislied, niay be racked or drawn ott' for ilse, as convenience may require, and it will not, asin the old pio cess, be injured or deteriorated by heilig lel't iii Ithe linishing-cask.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. As all attachment to be applied to easks in the iinishing operation, a three-way cock, in combination with compressed-air pipe l) and U-sllaped waterpipe C C', the latter having the reduced port or ports r at one or more points of its length, substantially as set forth.

2. The U-sliaped water-pipe C C', having a reduced port or ports, r, at one or more points ot' its length, in combination with a cock for use with a linishing-cask, whereby a watercolunin in one leg of the pipe will exert a constant aild uniform pressure on the surface ot' the beer, while excess oi gas is permitted to escape, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have liereuilto set nl y hand.

THEODORE F. STRAITH.

Witnesses:

p -J. J. McCormick,

CLAUDIi's L. PARKER. 

